2015-16 College Football Preview: MAC (West Division)

Week 1 of the college football preview's here at The Ultimate Sports Blog wraps up with a look at the MAC's West Division.

ARE YOU READY FOR EVEN MORE MAC-TION?!?!?!?!

HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HANDLE IT!!!!!!

The Ultimate Sports Blog's

2015-16 College Football Preview

MAC

West Division

1. Northern Illinois Huskies

2014 Record: 11-3 (7-1)


Head Coach: Rod Carey (23-6 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 99 (192.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 17 (249.1 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 50 (31.5 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 52 (25.6 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Drew Hare (2,322 passing yards, 59.5% completions, 18 TD's, 2 INT's)

Rushing - Cameron Stingly (193 carries, 971 rushing yards, 14 TD's)

Receiving - Da'Ron Brown (68 receptions, 1,065 receiving yards, 6 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Drew Hare (QB), Juwan Brescacin (WR), Tommylee Lewis (WR), Andrew Ness (C), Aidan Conlon (LG), William Lee (DT), Mario Jones (DL), Perez Ford (DL), Rasheen Lemon (LB), Boomer Mays (LB), Anthony Brooks (CB), Paris Logan (CB), Marlon Moore (SS)


Top Incoming Players: Daniel Santacaterina (QB), D.J. Brown (RB), Marcus Jones (RB), Daniel Crawford (TE), Ryan Roberts (TE), Nathan Veloz (OL), Kyle Pugh (LB), Josh Corcoran (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. UNLV
vs. Murray State
vs. @ Ohio State
vs. @ Boston College
vs. @ Central Michigan
vs. Ball State
vs. @ Miami (OH)
vs. Eastern Michigan
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Toledo
vs. @ Buffalo
vs. Western Michigan
vs. Ohio
BYE WEEK


MAC Title Game: vs. Akron (W)


Early Prediction: 10-3 (7-1)

2. Western Michigan Broncos

2014 Record: 8-5 (6-2)


Head Coach: P.J. Fleck (9-16 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 35 (267.3 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 57 (170.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 34 (33.8 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 43 (24.9 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Zach Terrell (3,443 passing yards, 67.9% completions, 26 TD's, 10 INT's)

Rushing - Jarvion Franklin (306 carries, 1,551 rushing yards, 24 TD's)

Receiving - Corey Davis (78 receptions, 1,408 receiving yards, 15 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Zach Terrell (QB), Jarvion Franklin (RB), Corey Davis (WR), Kendrick Roberts (WR), Eric Boyden (TE), Taylor Moton (RG), James Kristof (LG), Willie Beavers (LT), Nathan Braster (DE), Jarrell McKinney (DE), Cleveland Smith (DT), Robert Spillane (LB), Grant DePalma (LB), Ronald Zamort (CB), Rontavious Atkins (SS), Andrew Haldeman (K), J Schroeder (P)


Top Incoming Players:  Jon Wassink (QB), Davon Tucker (RB), LeVante' Bellamy (WR), Parker Underwood (TE), Wesley French (OL), Eric Assoua (LB), Alex Grace (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Michigan State
vs. @ Georgia Southern
vs. Murray State
vs. @ Ohio State
BYE WEEK
vs. Central Michigan
vs. @ Ohio
vs. Miami (OH)
vs. @ Eastern Michigan
vs. Ball State
vs. Bowling Green
vs. @ Northern Illinois
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Toledo


Early Prediction: 8-4 (6-2)

3. Toledo Rockets

2014 Record: 9-4 (7-1)


Head Coach: Matt Campbell (26-13 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 60 (234.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 13 (256.4 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 20 (36.6 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 92 (30.5 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Logan Woodside (2,272 passing yards, 62.6% completions, 19 TD's, 8 INT's)

Rushing - Kareem Hunt (205 carries, 1,631 rushing yards, 16 TD's)

Receiving - Corey Jones (69 receptions, 851 receiving yards, 5 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Phillip Ely (QB), Kareem Hunt (RB), Alonzo Rusell (WR), Alex Zmolik (TE), Allen Covington (DE), Trent Voss (DE), Treyvon Hester (DT), Orion Jones (DT), Jordan Martin (CB), Cheatham Norrils (CB), Chaz Whittaker (SS), DeJuan Rogers (FS), Nick Ellis (P)


Top Incoming Players: Mitchell Guadagni (QB), Art Thompkins (RB), Darrion Landry (WR), Chris Green (LB), Tyler Taafe (LB), Aaron Covington (DB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Stony Brook
vs. @ Arkansas
vs. Iowa State
vs. Arkansas State
vs. @ Ball State
vs. Kent State
vs. Eastern Michigan
vs. @ UMass
vs. Northern Illinois
vs. @ Central Michigan
vs. @ Bowling Green
BYE WEEK
vs. Western Michigan
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 8-4 (5-3)

4. Ball State Cardinals

2014 Record: 5-7 (4-4)


Head Coach: Pete Lembo (30-20 all-time)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 80 (215.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 78 (153.4 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 74 (27.7 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 68 (27.2 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Jack Milas (1,302 passing yards, 55.0% completions, 9 TD's, 5 INT's)

Rushing - Jahwan Edwards (262 carries, 1,252 rushing yards, 12 TD's)

Receiving - Jordan Williams (56 receptions, 753 receiving yards, 6 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Jack Milas (QB), Jordan Williams (WR), Chris Shillings (WR), KeVonn Mabon (WR), Dylan Curry (TE), Jacob Richard (C), Jalen Schlachter (OL), Jeremiah Harvey (OL), Steven Bell (OL), Drake Miller (OL), Michael Ayers (DE), Darnell Smith (DT), Julian Jackson (DT), Ben Ingle (LB), Zack Ryan (LB), Aaron Taylor (LB), Tyree Holder (CB), Martez Hester (SS), Kyle Schmidt (P)


Top Incoming Players:  Riley Neal (QB), James Gilbert (RB), Morgan Hagee (K)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. VMI
vs. @ Texas A&M
vs. @ Eastern Michigan
vs. @ Northwestern
vs. Toledo
vs. @ Northern Illinois
vs. Georgia State
vs. Central Michigan
vs. UMass
vs. @ Western Michigan
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Ohio
vs. Bowling Green
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 5-7 (3-5)

5. Central Michigan Chippewas

2014 Record: 7-6 (5-3)


Head Coach: John Bonamego (0-0 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 53 (242.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 76 (155.2 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 82 (26.9 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 46 (25.2 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Cooper Rush (3,157 passing yards, 63.6% completions, 27 TD's, 13 INT's)

Rushing - Thomas Rawls (210 carries, 1,103 rushing yards, 10 TD's)

Receiving - Titus Davis (60 receptions, 980 receiving yards, 13 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Cooper Rush (QB), Jesse Kroll (WR), Nick Beamish (C), Kenny Rogers (RG), Ramadan Ahmeti (LT), Joe Ostman (DE), Blake Serpa (DE), Jabari Dean (DT), Brandon Greer (CB), Tony Annese (DB), Brian Eavey (K), Ron Coluzzi (P)


Top Incoming Players: Jake Johnson (QB), Romello Ross (RB), Austin Ervin (TE), Michael Oliver (LB)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Oklahoma State
vs. Monmouth
vs. @ Syracuse
vs. @ Michigan State
vs. Northern Illinois
vs. @ Western Michigan
vs. Buffalo
vs. @ Ball State
vs. @ Akron
BYE WEEK
vs. Toledo
vs. @ Kent State
vs. Eastern Michigan
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 5-7 (4-4)

6. Eastern Michigan Eagles

2014 Record: 2-10 (1-7)


Head Coach: Chris Creighton (2-10 all-time overall)


2014 Overall Passing Yards Ranking: 117 (151.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Rushing Yards Ranking: 99 (137.8 ypg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Ranking: 126 (15.2 ppg)

2014 Overall Points Scored Against Ranking: 125 (40.9 ppg)

2014-15 Team Offensive Stat Leaders:

Passing - Reginald Bell Jr. (1,297 passing yards, 57.1% completions, 9 TD's, 6 INT's)

Rushing - Reginald Bell Jr. (133 carries, 562 rushing yards, 4 TD's)

Receiving - Tyreese Russell (39 receptions, 523 receiving yards, 3 TD's)


Top Returning Players: Reginald Bell Jr. (QB), Dustin Creel (WR), Kris Strange (WR), Jeremy Hickey (LG), Andrew Wylie (RT), Jeremiah Harris (DE), Mike Brown (DT), Pat O'Connor (DT), Hunter Matt (LB), Great Ibe (LB), Anthony Zappone (LB), Daquan Pace (CB), Jason Beck (DB), Dylan Mulder (K)


Top Incoming Players: Breck Turner (RB), Kezio Snelling (WR), Bryce Kemp (TE), Nick Dillon (DL)


2015-16 Schedule:

vs. Old Dominion
vs. @ Wyoming
vs. Ball State
vs. Army West Point
vs. @ LSU
vs. Akron
vs. @ Toledo
vs. @ Northern Illinois
vs. Western Michigan
vs. @ Miami (OH)
vs. UMass
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Central Michigan
BYE WEEK


Early Prediction: 1-11 (0-8)

MAC West Division's Potential NFL Talent:

(These are guys playing in the conference this year who are already on NFL team's radars)

Kareem Hunt - RB (Toledo)

Corey Davis - WR (Western Michigan)

Alonzo Russell - WR (Toledo)

Andrew Ness - C (Northern Illinois)

James Kristof - OG (Western Michigan)

Pat O'Connor - DT (Eastern Michigan)

Anthony Zappone - LB (Eastern Michigan)